How are Americans treated in Sweden?

Answer 1

Americans are treated alternately with disdain and contempt....but then again, so is any outlander who comes to Sweden. All Swedes know English, as they are taught it as a mandatory subject in school from a very young age -- plus its the official second language of the country. However, Swedes only speak it very begrudgingly, even if you are about to spend $1000 shopping in their store. Also, while Sweden has spent multi-million dollars on trying to attract tourists, they don't do anything to help them while they are in Sweden. There is almost no signage or information in English (and I'm not saying English here because I'm American, its because there are hundreds of languages the world over, but pretty much everyone knows English, and the British Empire can be thanked for that), and while the Swedish tourism sites will tell you to take the train everywhere, the train websites, signs and announcements are all in Swedish. Granted, the intro to the sites *can* be switched to English, and there are a few train cars that have the marquis in English also, but for maps, directions and guides and such, it all switches right back to Swedish -- it's the same for the local attractions. And even if you manage to figure out how to purchase a ticket for the train or an attraction\event online or by cell phone, the confirmation and instructions will be sent to you in Swedish.

So, you manage to get here and to the attraction of your choice despite drowning in Swedish, and you want to find a good place to eat. Asking people around you, shopkeepers, or attraction attendants is a crap shoot. One time you might get lucky and someone is happy to help you, the next time, someone will give you wrong information on purpose because it's faster and they can stop speaking English...the third alternative is that they point and tell you there is stuff over there and good luck. I've encountered all of these scenarios while in Sweden, and I'm not even a tourist. I live here now because I married a Swede, and even my spouse is disturbed when he witnesses this behavior from fellow countrymen. The Germans and the French are actually more hospitable.